NCCU swelters in preparation for Division-I debut

[EPJr]

By MIKE POTTER, The Herald-Sun
August 10, 2007 12:04 am
Mose Rison said it's tough getting his N.C. Central football team through its preseason workouts in the stifling summer heat.

But the Eagles aren't alone among college football teams sweltering across the country, and this preseason camp may be the most important so far in school history.

Rison, in his first season as a head coach after a long career and many stops as a college and pro assistant, will take the defending Black National Champion Eagles into their first season of NCAA Division I (Championship Subdivision) competition this fall.

And while he agrees the upgraded schedule is "manageable," there aren't going to be any free passes.

The Eagles, who won the CIAA championship in their final two seasons in the conference, will open Aug. 25 at Albany [Ga.] State, the four-time defending champion of the Division II SIAC and a team that NCCU walloped 20-0 in a season-opening shocker last season in Durham.

"We've been watching the temperatures," Rison said. "It's about 106 down there [in South Georgia]. So we're going to be ready for it."

The Eagles have 90 players out for practice, with 43 scholarships. That's going to be more than the 36 allowed the seven Division II opponents on this season's schedule this time, but less then the numbers in the 60s that in-state rivals North Carolina A&T and Winston-Salem State will have, and far less than the 64-going-to-85 they'll face in their Oct. 27 matchup at Western Kentucky.

"One thing that really impressed me about [former NCCU head coach and now Grambling mentor] Rod Broadway was the way he had these guys prepared," Rison said. "No matter who was on the other side of the line, he always had them ready to go."

Rison said it has been a big adjustment so far, moving from offensive coordinator to head coach.

"Now everything falls on me," he said. "Before I was just concerned about the offense. Now I choose the hotel and decide when we're going to eat and the practice schedule. I was hoping to take a vacation this summer, but there have been some nights I barely got home."

Fortunately for Rison, who helped mold freshman quarterback Stadford Brown into a Black College All-American and national offensive player of the year during the Eagles' 11-1 season, Broadway hardly left the personnel cupboard bare.

Current senior cornerback Craig Amos was named to two All-America teams, while classmate and kicker Brandon Alston also was first-team All-CIAA and won the conference title game on a long last-second kick for the second straight year.

"I like the players we have," said Rison, who inked 21 players on the first day of the spring signing period. "We're very experienced on defense except for a couple of interior linemen.

"We've got two quarterbacks behind Stadford and we may be five deep at tailback. And we got a punter [Taylor Gray from Orange High] to take that load off of Gilbert."

A year under his belt

Brown said it's a lot easier being a second-year man than a raw rookie.

"I hadn't played football in a long time when last season started," Brown said. "I'm pumped up about going to Division I, but I was pumped up in Division II. Football is football and I'm excited about every game.

"Our receivers are looking good, and I think our offensive line is bigger than last year's."

Rison, who retained the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach duties, seemed to be chomping at the bit to see what Brown can do with a year's experience.

"He was on a very short leash early in the season," Rison said. "Now we can do a lot more things with him."

Rison's rule

Gilbert said the think that has struck him about Rison is how many rules he has.

"Coach has even more than Coach Broadway did," Gilbert said. "But all coaches have rules. And discipline is a good thing.

"I'm just glad he recruited a punter. Taylor's doing a great job and I hope he keeps it up. I never liked punting very much."

Notes -- Senior linebacker Derrick Ray said the heat has been tough on everyone. But he's enthusiastic about the Eagles' defense. "It's tough out here right now, but we know it's getting us ready for the season," Ray said. "I think we'll be better defensively than we were last season. We're ready for Division I." ... The Eagles' first open scrimmage will be Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

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